Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House 
	(1)  what files are held by the her Office on  (a) the Abortion (Amendment) Bill of Sessions (i) 1979-80, (ii) 1987-88 and (iii) 1989-90,  (b) the Unborn Children (Protection ) Bills of sessions (A) 1984-85, (B) 1985-86 and (C) 1987-88 and  (c) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill of session 1989-90; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  when she plans to answer question 177571 tabled by the hon. Member for Southend West on 7 January 2008, on departmental bill files; what the reason is for the time taken to respond; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Goodman: I apologise to the hon. Member. This question was overlooked.
	The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons does not hold any files, policy or otherwise, on individual pieces of legislation.

Safety Belts: Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House what files are held by her Department on the Road Traffic (Seat Belts) Bill of Session  (a) 1978-79,  (b) 1979-80 and  (c) 1980-81; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Goodman: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons does not hold any files, policy or otherwise, on individual pieces of legislation.

Food

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much food waste his Department generated in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: Where we provide catering services my Department strives to ensure that purchases match demand and that where possible only peelings and cuttings are disposed. Figures on the amount of material are not available. Food waste is a key priority for the Government—by reducing food waste we should stand to make significant environmental and economic gains.

Smoking

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland office's premises at 11 Millbank are smoke-free. The Northern Ireland Office has not constructed any smoking shelters.

Aviation: Costs

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1430W, on aviation: costs, if she will break down the figures for each year by  (a) domestic and  (b) international flights.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 12 May 2008
	The following table shows the average UK one-way air fare, including taxes and charges, covering domestic and international flights.
	
		
			  Average UK one-way air fares, 1997 prices 
			   All  International  Domestic 
			 1997 203 215 143 
			 1998 192 201 145 
			 1999 163 167 143 
			 2000 158 161 141 
			 2001. 143 144 135 
			 2002 129 131 117 
			 2003 112 112 112 
			 2004 107 107 105 
			 2005 101 101 104 
			 2006 103 104 102 
			  Notes:  1. Approximately three quarters of "international" fares are for short haul flights.  2. About half of domestic passengers are travelling for business purposes.  3. "Fare" includes all taxes and charges.  4. Covers domestic and international scheduled flights, but excludes transfer and charter passengers.  5. Domestic component based on a sample of routes where sufficient data available.   Source:  DfT analysis of CAA and IPS data.

Light Dues: Northern Ireland

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department has taken on the payment of light dues by the County Down fishing fleet; and whether it has sought the assistance of the Northern Ireland Fisheries Harbours Authority in such matters.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government are sympathetic to the concerns of the Northern Ireland fishing industry about the financial state of their industry and their need to reduce costs where they can.
	Light dues are a charge levied on commercial shipping to fund the activities of the general lighthouse authorities and the provision of aids to navigation. We continue to believe that such aids should be paid for by those that use them and not the general taxpayer. We therefore have no plans to abolish light dues levied on the fishing industry and have not sought advice from the Northern Ireland Fisheries Harbour Authority on this matter.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of vehicles registered at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to pay road tax was registered before 2001.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of vehicles, to the nearest 1,000, that were licensed at the end of 2007 and not exempt from vehicle excise duty was 31,914,000. Of this, 13,093,000 vehicles, 41 per cent, were first registered prior to 2001.

Railways: Finance

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much of the £15 billion government funding for rail announced in July 2007 has been allocated.

Tom Harris: holding answer 2 June 2008
	The White Paper "Delivering a Sustainable Railway" (Cmd 7176) published in July 2007 set out the public funds available to secure delivery of the railway in England and Wales, as specified in the White Paper, during the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2014.
	How these funds are specifically allocated to programmes will be determined as a consequence of the Office of Rail Regulation's Access Charges Review which is planned to conclude later this year.

Railways: Finance

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, Cm 7176, how much of the £15 billion in overall Government support for the railway between 2009 and 2014 has been allocated, broken down by scheme; and how much is yet to be allocated.

Tom Harris: holding answer 4 June 2008
	The White Paper 'Delivering a Sustainable Railway' (Cmd 7176) published in July 2007 set out the public funds available to secure delivery of the railway in England and Wales, as specified in the White Paper, during the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2014.
	How these funds are specifically allocated to programmes will be determined as a consequence of the Office of Rail Regulation's access charges review which is planned to conclude later this year.

Sea Rescue: Pay

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what pay scale is used for coastguards.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following pay scale is used for the following grades of Coastguard Staff:
	Pay Band A (Coastguard Watch Assistants) £12, 509 - £14, 384
	Pay Band B (Watch Officers) £14, 742 - £18, 717
	Pay Band C (Watch and Sector Managers) £19, 746 - £25, 072
	Pay Band B and D1 (Rescue Co-ordination Managers): £23, 847 - £30,277
	In addition to these salaries, a 25 per cent. Coastguard allowance is paid to coastguard watch assistants, watch officers and watch managers, a 15 per cent. Coastguard allowance to sector managers and RCC managers receive £2,455 on-call allowance.

Olympic Games 2012: Public Health

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1889W, on the Olympic Games 2012, what provision will be made to reduce any potential spread of sexually transmitted infections.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The national health service in London is currently working with both the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and the Olympic Delivery Authority to assess the sexual health needs up to, during and after the games. Lessons learned from previous games in host cities such as Sydney and Athens are also being considered as part of the planning process.

Departmental Standards

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many members of staff in his Department are responsible for each of its Public Service Agreement targets.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 4 June 2008
	The number of people in my Department responsible for each public service agreement target is shown in note 7, page 62 of the 2006-07 Resource Accounts, which can be found at the following website address:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/dcmsresource accounts_200607.pdf
	or in the House Libraries. A similar note will appear in the 2007-08 Resource Accounts, which is expected to be laid before Parliament on the 14 July 2008.

Electronic Government

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether mechanisms are in place to monitor the extent to which his Department's  (a) internal and  (b) external (i) correspondence and (ii) distribution of publications is carried out electronically.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Internal transactional correspondence within DCMS is almost exclusively undertaken electronically. No departmental studies exist on this issue, as the current working method has been in place for many years.
	As a point of customer service, departmental policy on correspondence with external sources is to respond to enquiries in the manner in which the original request was received, unless a more effective and helpful method is available.
	Electronic versions of all DCMS publications are placed on the departmental website, and links to such publications are routinely placed throughout the DCMS website. Our publications policy is to adopt electronic rather than hard copy publication wherever possible, taking into account the needs of the target audience groups.

Gaming Machines: Licensing

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many  (a) B2 machines or their equivalent and  (b) B3 machines or their equivalent there were in licensed betting offices in each year since 1996.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In 1996 licensed betting offices could offer two "amusements with prizes" all-cash (AWP) gaming machines (now classified as category C machines under the Gambling Act). The AWP gaming machines were contingent on the betting office licence issued by the local licensing justices. No central records were kept on the number of AWPs in betting offices but the Budd Report (2001) stated that BACTA estimates there are about 14,500 all-cash machines in betting offices.
	From 2003, and prior to the Gambling Act coming fully into force in September 2007, licensed betting offices could make available up to four fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) with a maximum prize of £500. No central records were kept on the number of FOBTs made available in betting offices but the Gambling Commission's 2006-07 annual report included an estimate by BACTA that there were 24,500 fixed odds betting terminals as at March 31 of that year.
	From September 2007, FOBTs were reclassified as category B2 gaming machines. Betting offices can offer B3 gaming machines as part of their entitlement to a maximum of four category B gaming machines. The Gambling Commission is currently collating information about the numbers of gaming machines in betting offices and this figure will be available in due course.

Sports: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of the £755 million indicated in his Department's corporate plan as spending on sport over the next three years will be contributed by  (a) his Department,  (b) other Government Departments,  (c) local authorities and  (d) National Lottery sources; which other Government Departments are expected to contribute; and how much of the £755 million has been allocated to spending areas.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The £755 million indicated in the Department's corporate plan refers to the budget for the PE and Sport Strategy for Young People (PESSYP) and is Exchequer funding. The DCMS contribution to the PESSYP strategy 2008-11 includes £31.5 million for our Extending Activity work strand, and £5 million for coaching.
	In addition to this since the publication of the Department's corporate plan, DCMS has provided additional funding of £13.45 million for club and dance links, £12 million for leadership and volunteering, plus a £3 million increase to the initial coaching programme.
	This makes a total DCMS contribution of £64.95 million out of the overall strategy budget of over £783 million, with DCSF providing the balance.
	All these monies have been committed via the Department's delivery bodies. Our ambition is for local authorities to work with our delivery partners to realise the wider benefits that PESSYP can bring.

Video Games

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the public consultation on video game age ratings classification will include examination of the merits of the  (a) British Board of Film Classification system,  (b) Pan European Games Information system and  (c) hybrid system recommended in the Byron Review.

Margaret Hodge: Details of the consultations are not yet finalised. The purpose of the consultation exercise is to take forward the recommendations in the Byron Review, not to repeat the analysis Dr. Byron concluded for her report.

Revenue and Customs: Reorganisation

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met Welsh Assembly Government Ministers to discuss the reorganisation of HM Revenue and Customs offices in Wales.

Paul Murphy: My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I meet regularly with Welsh Assembly Ministers to discuss a range of issues including HM Revenue and Customs. We continue to take a keen interest in the HMRC reorganisation and its impact in Wales. We have also spoken to and corresponded with Treasury Ministers on the issue.

Armed Forces: Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 February 2008,  Official Report, column 567W, on the Fairtrade initiative, how his Department promotes the use of fair trade products in British military establishments and bases.

Derek Twigg: The MOD is committed to supporting ethical trading, wherever possible, subject to the need to obtain best value for money. There are a wide variety of contracts in place across the Department which differ in their requirements, specifications, degrees of management information and suppliers. It is recognised that there is a need for a cohesive approach to the procurement of catering services to promote the achievement of sustainable procurement objectives and the universal implementation of best practice. A working group consisting of catering, sustainable development and commercial specialists from all areas of the MOD was formed in January 2008 and is currently looking at strategy options for change and improvement in collaboration with the Office of Government Commerce Buying Solutions.

Bombs

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the UK's position on the ban of cluster bombs is; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The adopted Convention, prohibiting the use of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians, is a major breakthrough in that it brings considerable humanitarian benefits and makes the world a better and safer place.
	In line with the Prime Minister's statement of 28 May 2008 and the Convention text adopted by 109 states in Dublin on 30 May 2008, the UK is withdrawing from service its sub-munitions; namely the L20A1 Extended Range Bomblet Shell (M85) and the CRV-7 Multi-Purpose Sub-Munition (M73). The UK armed forces will no longer use them operationally.
	The Convention does not alter our ability to work with coalition partners on operations involving states who are not signatories to the agreement. The adopted text also does not prevent the US from continuing to stockpile cluster munitions on their bases within UK territory (including Diego Garcia). However, in keeping with our commitment to uphold the norms of the treaty, we will be discussing with the US the longer-term status of their stockpiles on UK territory.
	The Convention prohibition on cluster munitions does not cover new weapons which do not carry the same risk to civilians because of their larger size, low numbers and the fact that they have sensor targeting and two fail-safe systems. A case in point is the 155mm ballistic sensor fused munition (BSFM), an anti-armour system artillery round. BSFM is due to enter service in the UK armed forces in 2012 and replace the anti-armour capability of the L20A1-M85.

Departmental Property

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what premises are occupied by units of the armed forces which are not owned by his Department.

Derek Twigg: A breakdown of MOD land identified as freehold, leased or where we hold legal rights, is available at:
	www.dasa.mod.uk/natstats/ukds/2007/c6/table603.html
	It is not possible to provide a more detailed breakdown, or to identify which areas are occupied without disproportionate cost.
	We keep our estate under continuous review to ensure that it is no larger than is required for defence purposes, and would normally only use non-MOD land where there is no alternative.

Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on sourcing the requirements for ISAF's Operational Reserve Force.

Bob Ainsworth: Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) is responsible for filling the specific requirements of NATO operations. However, we lobby regularly, most recently at the Bucharest summit, for allies to commit more troops to Afghanistan. We also continue to press for reform within NATO to allow the organisation to better deal with the requirements of current operations.

Aerials: Planning Permission

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in what circumstances and under what authority may local authorities  (a) withdraw and  (b) place conditions on permitted development rights for mobile phone masts permitted under a general permitted development order; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Local planning authorities can make a direction seeking the withdrawal of permitted development rights under article 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (the GPDO) where they are satisfied that it is expedient that development should not be carried out unless permission is granted for it on application.
	A direction made in respect of electronic communications code operators' apparatus will require the approval of the Secretary of State who may approve the direction with or without modifications under article 5 of the GPDO. Planning Policy Guidance Note 8: Telecommunications sets out the policy on removing permitted development rights granted under part 24.
	The permitted development rights contained in part 24 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 grant planning permission for a range of electronic communications development subject to a number of conditions and limitations. The conditions limiting the use of these rights are set out within the order, including the need to apply to the local planning authority for a determination as to whether the prior approval of the authority will be required to the siting and appearance of the development, in certain cases.
	In the Government's view, there is an implicit power to attach conditions to the approval of the details of the siting and appearance of the proposed development. The use of such conditions should not be attached as a matter of course, should be confined to matters relating to siting and appearance and should only be used in exceptional circumstances.

Departmental Overseas Visits

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1392W, on departmental overseas visits, what the  (a) country of destination and  (b) purpose was of each visit, excluding those to Brussels and Strasbourg.

Parmjit Dhanda: The country of destination for each of the overseas visits is as follows:
	
		
			  Destination  Number of trips 
			  European  
			 Austria 4 
			 Belgium 1 
			 Belgium (rail) 177 
			 Croatia 1 
			 Cyprus 1 
			 Denmark 11 
			 France 10 
			 Germany 48 
			 Ireland 12 
			 Italy 2 
			 Luxembourg 6 
			 Netherlands 17 
			 Norway 1 
			 Portugal 23 
			 Romania 12 
			 Slovenia 1 
			 Spain 24 
			 Sweden 3 
			 Switzerland 5 
			 Turkey 3 
			 Total 362 
			   
			  Intercontinental  
			 Bangladesh 2 
			 Japan 1 
			 Kenya 1 
			 New Zealand 4 
			 Pakistan 2 
			 Uganda 3 
			 United Arab Emirates 1 
			 United States of America 12 
		
	
	The purpose of these visits was to represent the Department and to provide expert advice on policy/subject issues.

Departmental Overseas Visits

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1392W, on departmental overseas visits, what the cost of the overseas visits was.

Parmjit Dhanda: The travel cost of the 388 overseas visits was as follows:
	362 European visits totalling—£79,267
	26 rest of the world visits totally—£72,633

Departmental Pay

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of employees in her Department who received a performance-related bonus at their last appraisal were  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following table gives the numbers receiving annual performance-related bonuses in the various demographic groups. These figures refer to the performance year 2006-07 which is the last year for which figures are available. They exclude staff in our executive agencies and Communities staff working in the Government office network. Ethnicity, disability and sexuality are reported on a voluntary basis and are known for around 60 per cent. of staff who received a bonus. For these factors the given proportions are based on these known populations.
	
		
			Number receiving a bonus  Proportion of bonus recipients (percentage) 
			  (a) Male 270 47 
			  (b) Female 299 53 
			  (c) From an ethnic minority 25 10 
			  (d) Disabled 5 1 
			  (e) Not heterosexual 24 7 
			 (1) Based on known population

Digital Switchover Help Scheme

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of  (a) the research on return path capability amongst the elderly and  (b) the draft return path costed option annex referred to in the minutes of the Emerging Technologies Group meeting on 27 February in relation to the digital switchover assistance scheme.

Iain Wright: The Department has not commissioned specific research on the usage of services by the elderly that are provided through a set top box with a return path. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 May 2008,  Official Report, column 265W.
	The Department has explored with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport the opportunities around providing return path functionality for recipients of the digital switchover 'Help Scheme', and the meeting of the Emerging technologies Group formed part of the discussion on this issue. The minutes of that meeting refer to a draft costed option annex which the Department agreed to provide to the group following the meeting to illustrate what could be asked of industry. A copy of the costed option annex will be placed in the Library. Two paragraphs have been redacted to avoid the risk that the document gives the misleading impression that this is a real invitation to industry to tender for this work.

Empty Property: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many houses in London are empty.

Iain Wright: There are 87,159 empty properties across London, of which 69,485 are privately owned. Of these privately owned empty properties, 27,437 have been empty for longer than six months. It is important to draw a distinction between properties that have been left empty for less than six months and those that are vacant for longer as properties empty for less than six months are most likely to be transactional vacancies which are a natural function of any housing market.
	We recognise the problems caused by the high number of long-term empty properties and continue to encourage local authorities to put measures in place to reduce this number, supported by the legislation we introduced in the Housing Act 2004 which have given councils the powers to apply to make an Empty Dwelling Management Order in respect of properties that have been vacant for over six months. Where an Empty Dwelling Management Order has been made, a council takes over management responsibility for that property, including ensuring that it becomes occupied.

Housing

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated difference in a build cost of a family home is in cash terms of meeting level 6 on the Code for Sustainable Homes, and meeting the minimum requirement under building regulations.

Iain Wright: The cost analysis carried out on the Code for Sustainable Homes by Cyrill Sweet in November 2007 examined a variety of different housing and development types. Information from this analysis formed part of a full cost-benefit analysis on implementing mandatory ratings against the code that was included in the impact assessment of the Housing and Regeneration Bill. The analysis contains estimated additional build costs for 2008 and for 2016 to take into account of things like improvements within industrial processes and technological developments. I have placed a copy of this analysis in the Library of the House.

Local Government: Pensions

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in what circumstances a local authority  (a) could and  (b) should award an additional pension under the new Local Government Pension Scheme provisions.

John Healey: An additional pension is awarded automatically to eligible members of the Local Government Pension Scheme on grounds of ill health. The actual amount is dependent on an eligible member's capacity to undertake future employment. In other instances, a pension can be enhanced either by awarding an extra period of membership, or by paying a fixed amount up to a maximum of £5,000 per year. The actual amount paid is at the discretion of the employing authority and must be in line with its published policy statement, supported by a business case to demonstrate the reasonableness of the decision.

Local Government: Pensions

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 16 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1798-99W, on local government: pensions, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the increase in the cost of the Local Government Pension Scheme to local authorities between 1996-97 and 2006-07.

John Healey: Every three years the regulations governing the Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales require each local authority pension fund to conduct an actuarial valuation exercise to establish the rate at which employers will need to contribute to their fund to ensure its ongoing solvency.
	Over the period identified, the single most important influence on employer contributions has been the increase in scheme membership. In 1997, membership of the LGPS totalled 2.3 million, including active, pensioner and deferred members. By 2007, this had increased to 3.6 million. Other important factors identified as part of each actuarial valuation exercise and which will also influence the level of employer contributions to the scheme include assumptions about improving longevity, pay and pay progression, price inflation, the incidence of ill-health early retirements, commutation of pensions, investment returns and prevailing economic circumstances generally.

Local Government: Pensions

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 16 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1798-99W, on local government: pensions, what the estimated  (a) total cost and  (b) total cost excluding non-local authority employer costs is for (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09.

John Healey: The information requested is not available at present but data for 2007-08 will be published in a statistical release in the autumn.

Non-Domestic Rates

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will estimate the revenue which would accrue from a two pence business rate supplement on businesses with a rateable value of over £50,000 if such a supplement were levied in each local authority in 2008-09.

John Healey: Business Rate Supplements will allow authorities to invest in much-needed projects aimed at boosting the economic development of local areas, which otherwise would not be able to go ahead. Business will be consulted in all cases, and will be given a vote on those projects where supplements will fund more than a third of the total cost. Authorities may decide to set the supplement lower than the maximum of 2p per £ of rateable value; offset the Business Rate Supplement against any contributions for Business Improvement Districts; raise the rateable value threshold above £50,000; and/or introduce a taper above the £50,000 threshold. Table 3.4 of "Business rate supplements: a White Paper", published in October 2007, sets out the potential supplement revenue. According to this table the maximum revenue raised in England would be £597.1 million, based on 2007 rateable values, the most recent year for which data are available.

Regional Ministers: Parliamentary Questions

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons regional Ministers do not answer parliamentary questions; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: Regional Ministers do not have executive powers and it is for departmental Ministers to answer parliamentary questions on issues pertaining to their Department's responsibilities. The Government believe, however, that regional Ministers should be accountable to Parliament in fulfilling their roles set out in 'The Governance of Britain' Green Paper and parliamentary questions on their work in this capacity are answered by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The Modernisation Committee of the House is currently conducting an inquiry into how regional accountability could be improved and this may make recommendations on how parliamentary questions on the work of regional Ministers are answered in future. The Committee is finalising its report and Government will respond to its recommendations once it is published.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment the Audit Commission has made of the reasons for recent trends in levels of benefit fraud.

Iain Wright: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I will ask the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member directly.
	 Letter from Steve Bundred, dated May 2008:
	Your Parliamentary Question on what assessment the Audit Commission has made of the reasons for recent trends in levels of benefit fraud has been passed to me for reply.
	As you will know, on 20 May 2008 the Commission published its biannual report on the National Fraud Initiative. I am enclosing a further copy for information. The report shows that public bodies are getting better at identifying fraud—the issue for us is to encourage them to display a zero tolerance to fraud, and to prosecute wherever practicable. The Commission has also recently taken over responsibility for the inspection and assessment of housing and council tax benefits. We are developing a comprehensive framework to deal with benefit fraud that recognises the vital contribution that benefit services make to the social and economic wellbeing of local areas, as well as how this fits in with local authority strategies to address poverty, deprivation, homelessness and unemployment.
	However, the Commission does not have an overview of benefit fraud, and so cannot make any assessment of general trends, either in relation to take-up or fraud. The Department for Work and Pensions remains responsible for welfare benefits, and any queries about fraud in relation to, for example, disability benefits, would have to be addressed to DWP directly.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Agriculture: Environment Protection

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to safeguard the environmental benefits of set-aside, with reference to the Common Agricultural Policy health check.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Government agree with the European Commission's proposal to abolish set-aside under the 'health check'. We and the Commission both recognise the importance of retaining the key environmental benefits and we will continue to encourage the introduction of appropriate EU-wide measures. We have also asked Sir Don Curry to continue working with key stakeholders to advise further on domestic policy options.

Agriculture: Young People

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage young people to work in the agricultural sector.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Government recognise the importance of new entrants to farming to ensure a dynamic and innovative industry.
	DEFRA supports the industry led Fresh Start initiative, which aims to encourage and support new entrants into farming. The Fresh Start Academies provide 12-18 months of business focused training, as well as business mentoring and identifying opportunities for new entrants to farming.
	DEFRA provides funding to support the activities of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs which work with young people, aged 10 to 26, with an interest in rural issues. The clubs offer young people a range of activities and experiences with a rural flavour, including training in agricultural and countryside skills and competitive activities.
	DEFRA also supports the Year of Food and Farming, an industry led campaign, one of the objectives of which is to encourage children to learn about what happens on a farm, what life is like in the countryside and the employment opportunities it offers.

Bees: Research

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1742-43W, on beekeeping: research, what the results of project HH0819SHB on fungal control of Varroa jacobsoni were.

Jonathan R Shaw: The results of the project HH0819SHB on fungal control of Varroa jacobsoni are shown in the Research Project Final Report, which is available on the DEFRA website.

Bovine Tuberculosis

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in how many parishes in England and Wales incidents of bovine tuberculosis were confirmed in each year since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw: The number of parishes in England and Wales where incidents of bovine tuberculosis were confirmed in each year since 1997 can be found in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of confirmed parishes in England  Number of confirmed parishes in Wales 
			 1997 277 33 
			 1998 397 60 
			 1999 461 77 
			 2000 525 87 
			 2001 292 67 
			 2002 820 146 
			 2003 821 163 
			 2004 855 183 
			 2005 948 188 
			 2006 986 222 
			 2007 1,047 215

Departmental Equality

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department met the civil service diversity targets set out on page 51 of Cabinet Office Annual Report 2007 by April 2008.

Jonathan R Shaw: The latest published statistics against overall civil service targets were at October 2007, and are available on the civil service website at
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/diversity/monitoring.asp.
	The final measurement against the targets will be published in autumn 2008.
	DEFRA's position as at 31 March 2008 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Diversity strand  31 March 2008  Civil service target 31 March 2008 
			 Women SCS 27.9 37.0 
			 Women top management post is SCS 18.6 30.0 
			 Disabled SCS 2.5 4.0 
			 BME SCS 1.9 3.2

Departmental Land

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2008,  Official Report, column 2328W, on tree preservation orders: Guildford, what assessment he has made of progress on disposal of the site against the stated timetable; and who the preferred bidder is.

Joan Ruddock: The exchange of contracts to the new owner, Linden Homes, took place on 18 May 2008. The contracts are due to complete on 2 July 2008.

Departmental Legislation

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Acts for which his Department has policy responsibility received Royal Assent between 1 May 1997 and April 2008; and which provisions within those Acts have not been brought into force.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA was formed with effect from June 2001.
	Since that time it has sponsored (or supported, for Acts resulting from Private Members' Bills; these Acts are asterisked) the primary legislation listed in the following table. Regarding which provisions are in force, a single picture with the precise details of whether particular provisions of an Act have been commenced (whether for all or some purposes, and whether in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as applicable) is information within the public domain which can be accessed using legislation subscription services, while individual Acts and commencement orders can be accessed severally without subscription on the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) website. In very broad terms however, the picture is as indicated in the table.
	
		
			  Legislation  Provisions 
			 Animal Welfare Act 2006 c.45 For both England and Wales, all in force except section 8(3)-(6), paragraph 3(1) of schedule 3, and certain repeals 
			   
			 Commons Act 2006 c.26 The following provisions are not yet in force: sections 1, 2, 10, 18, 26-28, 30, 32-37, 46. The following provisions are not in force, save in relation to Wales for certain ministerial powers to make delegated legislation and exercise other powers in anticipation of coming into force; sections 3, 6, 7, 8, 11-14, 19-21, 25, 29, 31 and 50, and schedules 2 and 3. Sections 16, 38, 41 and 48, and schedule 4 paragraphs 2-5 and 7, are in force in England, but not Wales. Sections 17, 39, 40, 42-44 are in force in England, but not Wales except for such ministerial powers. Schedules 5 and 6 are mostly not in force. 
			   
			 Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006 c. 19 All in force 
			   
			 Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 c.16 All in force except schedule 11 paragraph 74 
			   
			 Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 c.16 Section 1 has been repealed, remainder is in force except the following provisions: sections 37, 46 (but in force in Wales), 49 (5), (7), (8) (but in force for the purposes of enabling guidance to be given by the Secretary of State), schedule 4 para 3(5) and para 3(6) (but in force for the purposes of amendments to s52 (1) and (3)). Schedule 5 part 4 (not in force for the purpose of repeal of Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1986, s6) and part 9 (not in force in Wales) 
			 Hunting Act 2004 c.37 All in force 
			   
			 Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 c.1 1 All in force 
			   
			 Household Waste Recycling Act 2003 c.29* All in force 
			   
			 Ragwort Control Act 2003 c.40* All in force 
			 Water Act 2003 c.37 The following provisions are not yet in force: sections 5, 7, 8(2), 32, 58(2)-(4), (5) and (8) (not in force in England with the exception of insertions into the Water Industry Act 1991 for the purpose of enabling the Secretary of State to make regulations), (6), (7) and (9)-(14). Section 73, section 86(2) (a)-(e) and (3)-(7), section 88 and 89 and schedule 1 (in force except in so far as inserts Water Industry Act 1991, schedule 1A, para 11). Schedule 7, paras 3, 5, 9 and 41. Schedule 9, part 1 , and part 3 (not in force in relation to certain repeals of or in other legislation) 
			   
			 Waste and Emissions Trading Act 2003 c.33 All in force 
			   
			 Sustainable Energy Act 2003 c.30* In force except sections 3 and 4 
			   
			 Animal Health Act 2002 c.42 All in force

Departmental Public Participation

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on  (a) written consultation,  (b) consultation roadshows and  (c) stakeholder focus groups in each of the last three years.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA carries out consultation exercises as an integral part of our policy development work. Consultations are funded from local budgets rather than centrally and overall spend could be calculated only at disproportionate cost.
	While complying with the Government's Code of Practice on Consultation, the scale and approach of DEFRA's consultations varies depending on what is appropriate for the issue and stakeholder groups involved. This ranges from consultations with a specific, small group of stakeholders (e.g. Consultation on the Reform of Fruit and Vegetable Regime, which received 12 responses) to far reaching policies that use multiple approaches to consult with a wider range of stakeholders (e.g. the Climate Change Bill, which received 16,919 responses).

Departmental Research

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what science and research projects his Department commissioned in each year since 2001; how long each project was expected to last at the time it was commissioned; what cost his Department incurred in relation to each project; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: An overview of DEFRA's scientific R and D since 2001 is provided in my response to question 3623. Details of all DEFRA funded scientific research projects commissioned since 2001 are available through the DEFRA R and D website at:
	http://randd.defra.gov.uk/

Departmental Research

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what science and research projects his Department has commissioned which are ongoing; how long each project is commissioned to run for; what cost has been incurred by his Department on each; when each project is expected to finish; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: At any one time, DEFRA is responsible for around 2,000 science-related projects. Most of these are research projects commissioned to underpin DEFRA policy formulation and development, but we also fund major 'Non-R and D' programmes covering our monitoring, testing and surveillance activities. Projects range in timescale from single events for sharing knowledge to long-term studies expected to run to 2012 or beyond.
	I will place a list of ongoing DEFRA research and development projects in the Library.
	Details of all these DEFRA funded projects are available through the DEFRA R and D website at:
	http://randd.defra.gov.uk/

Departmental Research

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on scientific research and development in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Spend (£ million) 
			 2001-02 144 
			 2002-03 144 
			 2003-04 146 
			 2004-05 153 
			 2005-06 156 
			 2006-07 154 
			 2007-08 132 
		
	
	The acquisition and use of evidence is central to the development and delivery of robust policies and operations and underpins DEFRA's reputation and ability to influence.
	In 2007-08 around 95 per cent. of DEFRA's research and development budget was spent by policy groups to directly support their strategic priorities. The remaining funds were used by the central evidence teams to fund cross-cutting and horizon scanning work. In addition to spend on research and development, approximately £200 million was spent in 2007-08 on other science, including surveillance, monitoring, field trials and knowledge transfer.
	The Secretary of State has asked the DEFRA chief scientific adviser, Professor Bob Watson, to conduct an internal review of current R and D investment. Professor Watson is working with colleagues to find ways to:
	streamline the process of R and D proposal development;
	better integrate planning and focus more on cross-links with other areas of DEFRA and its network of agencies;
	make more effective use of uncommitted funds, and ensure a better balance in strategic investment profiles;
	encourage greater flexibility in budgets to better respond to in-year changes in priorities; and
	ensure monitoring and evaluation is commissioned to better assess the impact of policies.

Departmental Research

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department plans to spend on scientific research and development in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA plans to spend approximately £132 million on scientific research and development in the financial year 2008-09, representing about 5 per cent. of DEFRA's total programme budget. DEFRA also plans to continue to fund other science activity, including surveillance, monitoring, field trials and knowledge transfer.
	The future spending plans for scientific research and development across the next five years have not yet been agreed. Our focus will continue to be on ensuring that the science the department procures and uses is both fully relevant to our needs and of the highest quality.
	The DEFRA Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Bob Watson, is leading efforts to improve how DEFRA strategically manages and uses evidence, including scientific research and development. These efforts are mainly being directed through DEFRA's new Evidence Programme, which was formally established in April 2008. Key elements of this programme, including the development of an Evidence Strategy, were recently explored at a workshop with key DEFRA staff, colleagues from the Environment Agency and Natural England and members of DEFRA's Science Advisory Council (an independent, non-departmental public body providing expert advice on science policy and strategy). An event is planned for September 2008 to discuss DEFRA's draft evidence investment strategy with other funders and representatives from the science community.

Forests: Finance

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on programmes to combat deforestation in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Government have deployed both funding and other resources, such as expertise, and representation through the UN, G8 and Forest Law Enforcement and Governance processes. The causes of deforestation are complex and actions to address it overlap with governance and biodiversity initiatives.
	In March 2007, the Government announced a £50 million UK contribution to a fund to help conserve the Congo Basin rain forest. This will support proposals by 10 central African countries to protect the Congo Basin rain forest from destruction and will strengthen the work of other donors who are already active in the region.
	In Bali last December, the UK announced a contribution of £15 million to the World Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) which will assist developing countries in working out how they can participate in and benefit from evolving incentive mechanisms for avoided deforestation. The FCPF will provide support for technical and institutional capacity building through a Readiness Fund and pilot different approaches for providing financial incentives.
	Under the Darwin Initiative, the Government have committed more than £65 million to 490 projects in more than 146 countries. Specifically, the Darwin Initiative has funded over 100 projects in over 40 countries with the specific aim of conserving forest biodiversity at a cost of over £15 million of funding.
	The UK is contributing £24 million to support implementation of the EU's Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan. This involves bilateral agreements between the EU and timber-producing countries that will help them develop and implement timber licensing systems. The agreements will seek to address broader governance problems that allow illegal logging and forest destruction in these countries.
	The Government support a number of other initiatives, for instance by working with Indonesia under the Indonesia-UK Partnership Forum; the UK provided funding and expertise to help the Government of Indonesia prepare for the UN climate negotiations in Bali, in December. This included a contribution from the Department for International Development of £0.25 million to help Indonesia work on reducing emissions from deforestation.

Concrete: Sittingbourne

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further steps the Environment Agency has taken on the illegal crushing of concrete by KKB at Four Gun Field in Sittingbourne.

Jonathan R Shaw: I understand that KKB at Four Gun Field has a Paragraph 24 exemption under the Permitting Regulations 2007. This is registered with Medway unitary authority and allows the crushing of concrete at Four Gun Field.
	The Environment Agency is part of a multi-agency group including Swale borough council, Medway unitary authority and Kent county council which will take necessary action as and when it is required.

Official Visits: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what visits he has made to Essex in the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: Since becoming Secretary of State my right hon. Friend has visited Essex once in an official capacity; he visited Ingrebourne Hill in Rainham. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the 'Ministerial Code'.

Pesticides: EU Action

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations are being made to the European Parliament's Committee on Environment Public Health and Food Safety on the UK's position on proposals to tighten the cut-off criteria for approving essential pesticides.

Phil Woolas: The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) included an initial assessment of the impact of the criteria proposed by the Commission in briefing provided for UK members of the Committee during its first reading of the proposal. PSD subsequently prepared a detailed impact assessment of both the Commission's proposals and the amendments sought by the Parliament in its first reading, and will include this in briefing provided for UK members of the Committee during the second reading.

Credit Unions

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on proposals for revisions to the legislation on credit unions.

Kitty Ussher: I have shared with ministerial colleagues the responses to the Treasury consultation on the review of credit union legislation. The responses indicate an overwhelming appetite for reform and the Government response sets out our intention to legislate subject to parliamentary time.
	The Government have brought together a sector working group to develop options for reform.

Credit Unions

Si�n Simon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on support for credit unions.

Kitty Ussher: Support for credit unions continues to be at the heart of the Government's financial inclusion strategy. The Government will invest 80 million over five years (2006-11) in a growth fund for credit unions and other not-for-profit lenders. More than 100 lenders have already been supported, and more than 70,000 affordable loans made to financially excluded clients since 2006. More recently we have been looking at ways of updating credit union legislation to remove impediments to their growth and development.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reassess the proposals to amend vehicle excise duty announced in Budget 2008.

Robert Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reconsider his proposals on vehicle excise duty changes announced in Budget 2008.

Angela Eagle: The vehicle excise duty reforms announced at Budget are due to be legislated in the 2009 Finance Bill. The Chancellor keeps all taxation policy under review.
	Tackling climate change is the most serious environmental challenge we face, and road transport contributes around a quarter of total UK carbon dioxide emissions. As part of a package of measures to reduce emissions from transport, these VED reforms will send strong signals to motorists to purchase more fuel efficient new and second hand cars.

Oil and Gas Prices

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the effect on taxation revenues of increases in oil and gas prices in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: Higher oil prices do not result in a significant tax windfall for the Treasury. Higher oil prices generate greater receipts from both North sea corporation tax and petroleum revenue tax but there are a number of offsetting effects that limit the overall impact on the public finances.
	Updated forecasts will be published in the pre-Budget report later this year.

Fuel Prices: Highlands and Islands

Alan Reid: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of the recent rises in the price of fuel on the economy of the Highlands and Islands.

Angela Eagle: Increases in fuel prices, driven by developments in the global oil and wholesale gas markets, inevitably continue to influence all areas of the UK economy, including the Highlands. However, the UK as a whole is better placed to respond to these challenges than in the past, with record high employment and low inflation. The Highland and Islands in particular is seeing an employment rate significantly above the UK and Scottish average, and has seen claimant count unemployment falling by 67 per cent. since 1997.

Economic Activity: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of trends in economic activity in Warrington since 1997.

Angela Eagle: Since 1997, the economy of the North West has grown by 4.6 per cent. on average in nominal terms. In Warrington, since 1997 increased economic activity has allowed claimant count unemployment to fall by 40 per cent. and long-term unemployment by 86 per cent. The employment rate in Warrington is now above the national average at 76 per cent.

Income Tax

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the income distribution of the 1.1 million households which will not be fully compensated for the abolition of the 10 pence rate of income tax by the measures announced on 13 May 2008.

Jane Kennedy: The announcement on 13 May means that 80 per cent. of the households who stood to lose from the Budget 2007 reforms are compensated in full, and the remaining 1.1 million will see their losses more than halved.
	Details of the household incomes of the 1.1 million households who are not fully compensated are set out in the Memorandum to the Treasury Committee for its inquiry into Budget Measures and Low-Income Households.
	This shows that just over half of these households have a gross income above 20,000.

Government's Fiscal Rules

Peter Lilley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment his Department has made of the extent to which levels of public debt and borrowing comply with the Government's fiscal rules.

Yvette Cooper: Budget 2008 shows the Government are meeting the fiscal rules. The Government assess performance against the fiscal rules alongside a complete update of both the economic and public finance projections, which take place at Budget and pre-Budget reports. In line with the Code for fiscal stability, the next update on performance against the rules is at the 2008 pre-Budget report.

Oil Prices

Nia Griffith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with international counterparts on the economic effects of global oil prices.

Angela Eagle: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has had various discussions with international counterparts in recent months regarding the economic effects of oil prices, including at G7 Finance Ministers Meetings in February and April 2008. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Public Sector Debt and Borrowing

Adam Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of his Department's forecasts of levels of public sector debt and public borrowing in the last five years.

Yvette Cooper: The end of year fiscal report (EYFR) published alongside the pre-Budget report provides a clear and transparent assessment of public sector debt and public borrowing forecasts.

Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has issued guidance to staff in his Department to switch off personal computers when not in use; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Guidance has been issued under the Acceptable Use Policy for both HM Treasury and OGC staff to turn off unused computers when not in use, for security reasons and to avoid wasting electrical energy. In addition, Treasury staff are reminded to turn off screens via their 'green screen saver'.

Economic Situation: Education

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effects on the economy of public expenditure on education.

Yvette Cooper: Investment per pupil in England has increased from under 2,500 in 1997 to over 6,000 in 2008-9. This has supported a big increase in attainment, with more than 60 per cent. of pupils now getting five or more GCSEs at grade A* to C, compared with 45.1 per cent. in 1997. As the Leitch report showed, increasing skills and education has a long-term impact on economic growth.
	It is for the devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to determine per pupil funding levels in their territories, but latest available data reveals that total UK expenditure on education has risen from 37.4 billion in 1997-98 to 76.2 billion in 2007-08.

Financial Services Authority

John Thurso: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what oversight his Department has on consultations undertaken by the Financial Services Authority.

Kitty Ussher: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is operationally independent of Government. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) requires the Financial Services Authority to consult on rules it proposes to make, unless it considers the delay involved in consultation would be prejudicial to consumers. The consultation must include an explanation of the purpose of the proposed rules and a cost benefit analysis unless there is no increase in costs or the increase in costs will be of minimal significance.

Members: Correspondence

David Wilshire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Financial Secretary will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Spelthorne of 1 April and 6 May on behalf of his constituent, Mrs Helen Seeley.

Jane Kennedy: I have replied to the hon. Member.

Minimum Wage: Telephone Services

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints the National Minimum Wage hotline has received in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The following table shows the number of complaints received about possible under-payment of the minimum wage. The figures include complaints received by the National Minimum Wage Helpline and some other sources such as email.
	
		
			   Complaints 
			 2005-06 2,141 
			 2006-07 2,210 
			 2007-08 3,231

National Debt

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the national debt was as a percentage of GDP in real terms in  (a) 1990,  (b) 1995,  (c) 2000 and  (d) 2005;
	(2)  what the national debt was as a percentage of GNP in  (a) 1990,  (b) 1995,  (c) 2000 and  (d) 2005;
	(3)  what the national debt was per working person in real terms in  (a) 1990,  (b) 1995,  (c) 2000 and  (d) 2005.

Angela Eagle: For the purposes of assessing performance against the sustainable investment rule, public sector net debt is measured as a percentage of GDP. Figures for the public sector net debt ( billion) and public sector net debt as a percentage of GDP are published monthly on Table A7 and Table A8, respectively, of the Public Finances Databank produced by HM Treasury, which is available on:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/finance_spending_statistics/pubsec_finance/psf_statistics.cfm
	The Office of National Statistics does not specifically release figures for the gross national product (GNP), but releases figures for gross national income (GNI), which can be found in the Blue Book on Table 1.2: Gross National Income in Current Prices (series ABMX).
	Figures for the working age population are released by the Office of National Statistics based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which can be found in Labour Market Statistics on Table 1: Population (all) aged 16-59/64 and Economically active (all) aged 16-59/64 (series YBTF and YBSK, respectively).
	Both GNI and LFS figures are available on:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/tsdtimezone.asp

Railways: Finance

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effects on the economy of expenditure on rail infrastructure.

Angela Eagle: The most recent assessment of the effects on the economy of expenditure on all modes of transport was made in the Eddington Transport Study carried out by Sir Rod Eddington for the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Transport in December 2006.
	The Department for Transport also published a White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, in July 2007 fulfilling the remit the Government set itself in 2005 to provide strategic direction for the rail industry.

Revenue and Customs: Manpower

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many HM Revenue and Customs employees worked on preventing the importation of  (a) controlled drugs,  (b) illegal firearms and  (c) illicit (i) alcohol and (ii) tobacco in each year since 2002-03; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 19 May 2008
	I have been asked to reply.
	HM Revenue and Customs frontline detection staff are multifunctional and are deployed on an intelligence-led basis according to risk. As a result it is not possible to break down the deployment of staff by commodity, as this would provide information of value to those seeking to circumvent HM Revenue and Customs' controls, thereby prejudicing the prevention of crime.
	The previous year's detection staffing figures for HM Revenue and Customs are provided in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2002-03 3,790 
			 2003-04 3,754 
			 2004-05 3,910 
			 2005-06 4,256 
			 2006-07 4,397 
			 2007-08 4,495

Smuggling: Wildlife

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people were  (a) cautioned and  (b) successfully prosecuted for attempting to smuggle into the UK (i) turtle shells and (ii) other items derived from endangered species in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Since April 2000 nine people have been successfully prosecuted for offences relating to the illegal importation into the UK of endangered species and derived products in breach of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein. One case, in which one person was convicted, involved the smuggling of various animal skulls including a turtle skull.
	Officers of HM Revenue and Customs do not have the statutory powers to issue a caution to an offender as an alternative to prosecution.

Unemployment

Susan Kramer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of three to five-year-olds were living in  (a) workless households and  (b) relative poverty in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	In the period April to June 2007, there were around 350,000 children in the United Kingdom aged between three and five-years-old living in workless working age households. This corresponds to 17.5 per cent. of all three to five-year-olds.
	The Government's preferred measure of relative low income poverty for children is defined as being in a household with a household income of less than 60 per cent. of the contemporary median income on a Before Housing Cost basis. In 2005-06, there were 0.5 million children in the United Kingdom aged between three and five-years-old in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of median income on a Before Housing Cost basis. This corresponds to 23 per cent. of all three to five-year-olds.
	 Notes:
	 Workless households
	1. Figures for households are based on working age households. A working age household is a household that includes at least one person of working age, that is a woman aged 16 to 59 or a man aged 16 to 64.
	2. The source of these statistics is the Labour Force Survey (LFS) which is a sample survey covering over 52,000 households in the UK in each three-month period.
	3. The LFS quarterly household datasets used to provide this estimate are weighted to the 2003 population estimates. Datasets reweighted to the latest population estimates are currently expected to be available in summer 2008.
	4. As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	 Relative Poverty
	5. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data, 2005-06.
	6. The reference period for HBAI figures is single financial years.
	7. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication Households Below Average Income series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or equivalised) for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living.
	8. The figures are based on OECD equivalisation factors.
	9. Figures have been presented on a Before Housing Cost basis. For Before Housing Cost, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income.
	10. Numbers of children have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 children, while proportions of children have been rounded to the nearest percentage point.

Valuation Office: Databases

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Valuation Office Agency's electronic records project involves the digitisation of information on age, size and construction of domestic properties.

Jane Kennedy: The project involves the scanning of existing hard copy survey records held by the VOA, including those of domestic properties. More information about this project can be found on the VOA website at:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/news/press08/news_release _15_05_08.htm

Valuation Office: Databases

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the budget is for the Valuation Office Agency's electronic records project.

Jane Kennedy: A significant part of the cost of this project relates to services provided by external contractors and their charges are commercially confidential.

Welfare Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many compensation payments for tax credit maladministration have been made in each quarter from April 2003 to April 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The circumstances in which HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will make compensation payments to its customers are explained in the Department's fact sheet C/FS 'Complaints and Putting Things Right' which is available at
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/factsheets/complaints-factsheet.pdf.
	The Department will pay compensation for reasonable costs incurred as a direct result of any mistakes or delays and to recognise worry and distress caused.
	For the number and value of compensation payments made in 2003-04, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers my predecessor gave the hon. Member for Northavon (Steve Webb) and to the hon. Member for the former Hamilton South constituency (Mr. Tynan) on 20 July 2004,  Official Report, column 191W.
	For the number and value of compensation payments made in 2004-05, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers my predecessor gave him on 4 July 2005,  Official Report, columns 95-96W, 15 November 2005,  Official Report, column 1212W and 18 July 2006 , Official Report, columns 360-61W.
	Information for 2006-07 can be found in the answer I gave the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Julia Goldsworthy) on 23 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 2100 -01W.
	Quarterly information for 2007-08 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  2007-08 
			   Number 
			 April to June 2,369 
			 July to September 1,158 
			 October to December 2,896 
			 January to March 2,097 
		
	
	The information for 2007-08 differs from that published in answers I gave the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne on 23 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 2100-01W and the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander) on 31 March 2008: columns 675-76W. The Department started recording information about compensation payments made to its customers on a new database from the beginning of 2007-08. In finalising the details for 2007-08 HMRC identified that the bespoke query used to extract this information was producing inaccurate results. The total value of compensation paid by TCO to tax credits customers in 2007-08 was around 475,000.
	Monthly figures for 2003-04 are not available and therefore the quarterly figures cannot be given for that year.

Better Off in Work Credit

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what timetable he has set for the pilots of the Better Off in Work Credit; when he plans to introduce the credit nationally; what budget has been set for administering the credit in each of the next three years; and what estimate he has made of the total value of the credit to recipients in each of the next three years.

Stephen Timms: As we stated in the Command Paper, 'Ready for work: full employment in our generation' published on 13 December 2007, the new Better off in Work Credit will be piloted from October 2008. If the pilot proves successful we will extend the scheme nationally in 2009.
	On 20 May 2008, I announced that Jobcentre Plus will pilot the new measure in all districts in the Yorkshire and Humberside region, a total of 59 Jobcentre Plus offices. We estimate that there are around 12,000 individuals who would be eligible for the credit each year in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.
	Administrative costs will be dependent on the operational model currently being developed by Jobcentre Plus and will be met from within existing resources.
	The projected annual cost of the Better off in Work Credit payments will be 31 million if rolled out nationally.

Compensation: Disabled

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are in place to ensure that claimants awarded a compensatory payment for errors made by his Department are  (a) notified and  (b) agreed to the claimant before payment is made; and what consideration is made of the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 during this process.

Anne McGuire: The DWP is committed to meeting the needs of disabled people. We aim to go further than the legal requirements and intend the Department to set a leading example to other organisations.
	The Department is focussed on providing high standards of customer service and seeks to provide rapid and satisfactory resolution of any customer complaints. In the event that agency error or delay may have an adverse effect on a customer, the Department operates a discretionary scheme providing financial redress. Under these arrangements a special payment can be made to compensate for the impact of any error on the customer.
	Support from staff is available where needed but special payments are considered and awards made without the need for the customer to complete any documentation.
	Notification of a special payment is sent to the customer and they are given the opportunity to discuss this if they are dissatisfied with the award. Where it is known that a customer has a specific communication barrier, we will ensure that our written information is accessible by producing our correspondence in a different format as appropriate. Where the use of written communication may not be suitable or available for a customer, customers will be offered an appropriate alternative.

Departmental Press Releases

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's procedure is for publishing announcements on  (a) the publication of departmental research reports and  (b) departmental policy.

Anne McGuire: The publication of the Department's research reports are usually announced by way of a press release. These are placed on the Department's website and copied to subscribers.
	The majority of our reports will also be announced by way of a factual analytical press notice. Analytical press notices are routinely issued with most research reports produced by the Department to announce their publication including highlighting the key findings of the report. Where the report is considered to be of significant public interest, a ministerial press notice may also be issued.
	DWP does not have a discrete procedure for announcing departmental policy. Ministers follow the principles contained in section 9 of the ministerial code that major policy announcements should be given to Parliament before being announced in the media.

Departmental Press Releases

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria his Department uses to decide what information it should publish with a press release.

Anne McGuire: The Department releases four main types of press notices in the course of its routine business.
	Analytical press notices are issued routinely alongside most research reports produced by the Department to announce their publication.
	Statistical releases set out key figures and are issued in conjunction with the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
	Ministerial press notices are issued where there is likely to be a significant public interest in an issuefor example the launch of a new policy.
	Operational press notices are issued, where appropriate, in relation to operational and delivery issues, for example to invite media to attend events organised by the Department such as the opening of a new Jobcentre Plus office.

Departmental Press Releases

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date and at what time his Department's press releases on DWP research report  (a) 472,  (b) 481,  (c) 486 and  (d) 467 were first released; to whom each release was circulated; and when each release was uploaded onto the departmental website.

Anne McGuire: The analytical press releases for each of the four research reports were released on Wednesday 7 May 2008 at 1.30 pm. In line with standard practice for analytical releases all four were published on the DWP internet site.

Departmental Publications

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the reasons are for the time taken to publish the  (a) family resources survey,  (b) households below average income and  (c) pensioners income series; and when he expects each to be published.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Secretary of State gave to him by letter on 28 April 2008

Fabian Society

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the speech he made on Tuesday 6 May 2008 to the Fabian Society was made in a ministerial capacity.

James Purnell: The Fabian Society invited the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to speak at their spring lecture on the Department's role in fulfilling the Government's child poverty reduction commitments. The speech covered both political and departmental issues.

Housing Benefit

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the annual savings resulting from the reduction in backdating facilities for housing benefit and council tax benefit; and how such savings will be allocated.

James Plaskitt: The changes to backdating for housing benefit and council tax benefit are part of a package of measures, rather than an individual change. Taken together, these changes will simplify and improve the claims process for pensioners; allowing claims for up to four benefits to be dealt with in a single telephone call, extending the period pension credit recipients can spend abroad without losing benefit and introducing indefinite assessed income periods for pension credit recipients aged 80 or over. Savings from the backdating changes will go towards the additional take-up that will result from the other changes in the package.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Estimated savings from proposed changes to housing benefit and council tax benefit backdating 
			million, 2007-08 prices 
			 2008 35 
			 2009 70 
			 2010 70 
			 2015 70 
			 2020 65 
			  Notes: 1. Estimates have been rounded to the nearest 5 million 2. Figures relate to financial years. 3. Estimated savings are consistent with the 2008 Budget settlement but they are based on a set of assumptions and are subject to change as new data become available. 4. Estimates are based on a single data extract. The backdating variable within the extract was introduced relatively recently, which means that we have no way of corroborating the robustness of the data. 5. Estimated savings from the housing benefit/council tax benefit backdating measure have been projected forward from 2011 in line with the growth in the long-run forecast of expenditure on housing benefit and council tax benefit.  Source: Single HB extract from local authority computer systems

In Work Emergency Fund

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many individuals received a payment from the  (a) in work emergency fund and  (b) in work emergency fund for lone parents in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available, broken down by (i) region and (ii) local authority area;
	(2)  how many individuals have received a payment from the in work emergency fund in each year since its inception; what the total amount of payment made by the fund was in each such year; what the cost of administering the fund was in each such year; and what the average administrative cost per payment was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: Only lone parents are eligible to claim In Work Emergency Fund (IWEF) payments. Since 28 April 2008, the IWEF has been replaced by the In Work Emergency Discretion Fund which is available to lone parents nationally and to couple parents in New Deal Plus pilot areas.
	In the 12 months from April 2007 to March 2008, 360 lone parents received IWEF payments.
	Available figures on IWEF payments cannot be broken down by region and local authority area.
	Information on the number of lone parents who received IWEF payments in each year since its inception, and the total amount of payments made, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of lone parents receiving IWEF  Total payment () 
			 October 2004 to March 2005 80 16,000 
			 April 2005 to March 2006 240 49,200 
			 April 2006 to March 2007 200 53,100 
			 April 2007 to March 2008 360 97,100 
			 Total 860 215,500 
			  Notes:  1. Payments are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. If more than one payment was made to a lone parent, the date of the first payment has been used and the total of the payments recorded.   Source:  Resource Management database. 
		
	
	The average administrative cost per payment in the most recent period (2007-08) where figures are available is 14.34. This figure includes all staff and non-staff costs, IT and Estates overheads. In 200708, 400 payments were made which, combined with the average cost of 14.34, gives a total administration figure of 5,736(1). Administrative costs per payment for earlier years are not available.
	(1) The figures for the payments made and costs of administration do not come from the same data source. Therefore slight inconsistencies may exist in the data. The figures given are indications rather than actuals.

Staff Turnover

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the staff turnover of each business unit located in Fylde was in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the staff turnover rate was for administrative officers working in  (a) Warbreck Hill Call Centre,  (b) Shared Services Warbreck Hill and  (c) the Child Support Agency at Peel Hill in the latest period for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: The staff turnover for each business unit located in the Fylde for the 12 month period from 30 April 2007 to 30 April 2008 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Business name  Turnover (percentage) 
			 Child Support AgencyFylde 9.5 
			 Corporate and Shared ServicesFylde 3.7 
			 Disability and Carers ServiceFylde 3.4 
			 Jobcentre PlusFylde 4.4 
			 The Pensions ServiceFylde 8.7 
			 Overall DWPFylde 4.3 
		
	
	The staff turnover rate for administrative officers working in  (a) Warbreck Hill Call Centre  (b) Shared Services Warbreck Hill and  (c) The Child Support Agency at Peel Hill are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Location  Business  Building  AO turnover (percentage) 
			  (a) Warbreck Hill Call Centre Disability and Carers Service Warbreck House 4.2 
			  (b) Warbreck Hill Shared Services Warbreck House (1) 
			  (c) Peel Hill Child Support Agency Peel Park (2) 
			 (1) Not applicable, no AOs employed. (2) Child Support Agency staff presence at Peel Park commenced February 2008. 12 month turnover rate not yet available.  Note: The Department calculates turnover by dividing the number of permanent staff (includes fixed term appointments of over 12 months) who leave in a 12 month period, by the average number of staff employed in the same period (calculated as a mean figure using the number of staff at the start and end of the period).

Belarus: Human Rights

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Belarus, with particular reference to protection for Christian human rights activists and politicians; what recent representations he has made on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The Government continue to have serious concerns about the lack of respect for human rights in Belarus, including the curtailment of religious freedom, and monitor the situation closely. The Government's assessment of the situation in Belarus can be found in our latest annual Human Rights report, available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's website at
	www.fco.gov.uk.
	The Government regularly raise concerns about the harsh treatment of civil society groups, including faith groups, and human rights violations in general. We work closely with our EU partners and the US to raise these concerns and maintain effective pressure for improvement. Recent representations include statements issued by the EU on 29 April criticising recent regime actions and on 8 May in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Council. Both these documents are available on the website of the current Slovene European presidency at
	www.eu2008.si/en.

Bombs

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the Government plan to seek exemptions from the convention on cluster munitions at the Dublin Diplomatic Conference.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 2 June 2008
	On 28 May my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced the Government's support for a ban on cluster munitions including UK munitions currently in service. This step confirmed the Government's commitment to address the humanitarian concerns that cluster munitions raise. We are pleased to be able to support the draft convention on cluster munitions that was adopted in Dublin on 30 May. We believe the future convention will put in place an effective framework not only to prevent civilian casualties but provide for international cooperation and clearance that will facilitate clearance of contaminated areas and care for victims of cluster munitions.

Burma: Political Prisoners

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to seek to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners in Burma.

Meg Munn: On 27 May, the Burmese regime decided to extend Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest for a further 12 months. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made a public statement on 27 May expressing his sadness that the Burmese Government had extended Aung San Suu Kyi's detention. He also said that while our immediate focus is on relieving the suffering caused by the recent cyclone, restoration of democracy in Burma is still vital for that country's long-term future. He urged the Burmese Government to release Aung San Suu Kyi and allow her to play her rightful role in the process of genuine national reconciliation. On 29 May, the EU presidency issued a statement which strongly deplored the decision taken to renew Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest.
	The member states of the EU continue to call for the release of opposition political figures. Measures adopted under the EU Common Position remain in place to underpin pressure on the regime to move to an inclusive democratic system of governance. In a President's Statement last month, the UN Security Council reaffirmed its call last October for the release of political prisoners in Burma.

Caribbean: Royal Visits

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Government officials accompanied HRH the Prince of Wales on his official visit to the Caribbean in March 2008; what  (a) travel and  (b) accommodation costs incurred in respect of officials were met from public funds; and what costs were met by (i) his Department, (ii) the Department for Transport and (iii) another source.

Meg Munn: No Government officials accompanied His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on his official visit to the Caribbean. Between three and 14 members of our respective high commission/governor's office participated in the visit locally.
	Accounts for the visit have not been finalised. I will write to my hon. Friend with the travel and accommodation costs incurred by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as soon as they are available and arrange for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Library of the House.
	Air and sea travel costs for the royal party were met by the royal travel grant in aid, provided by the Department for Transport. The funding of official travel by members of the royal family is administered by the royal travel office in Her Majesty the Queen's household. Travel costs will be published in The royal grant in aid annual report, which will be published later this year.

Departmental Recruitment

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people were recruited to his Department under the Diplomatic Fast Stream programme in each of the last 10 years.

David Miliband: Since 2000, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has recruited the following numbers of people under the Fast Stream programme:
	
		
			  Number of people recruited to the FCO under the Diplomatic Fast Stream programme 
			   Number 
			 2000 34 
			 2001 30 
			 2002 33 
			 2003 33 
			 2004 21 
			 2005 24 
			 2006 26 
			 2007 28 
		
	
	The FCO does not hold information on Fast Stream recruitment prior to 2000 and this information cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.
	As the FCO's Fast Stream Final Selection Boards for 2008 will not be completed until mid-June, the number of successful candidates is not yet available.

Departmental Recruitment

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people recruited to his Department in the last financial year were aged  (a) 20 to 30,  (b) 31 to 40,  (c) 41 to 50 and  (d) 51 to 60 years.

David Miliband: The following table provides a breakdown of permanent recruits to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and FCO Servicesa Trading Fund of the FCOin the age groups specified during the 2007-08 financial year:
	
		
			  Age group  Number recruited to the FCO in the 2007-08 financial year  Number recruited to FCO services in the 2007-08 financial year 
			 20 to 30 153 5 
			 31 to 40 19 11 
			 41 to 50 12 15 
			 51 to 60 4 5

Indonesia: Politics and Government

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indonesian government to encourage it to prevent violence directed at the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Indonesia.

Meg Munn: We are aware that the Indonesian Government are currently considering a recommendation from a governmental advisory body that a ban should be imposed on Ahmadiyah. Anti-Ahmadiyah demonstrations have taken place in different parts of Indonesia and several mosques have been damaged.
	Our ambassador in Jakarta raised UK concerns about the possible ban with the Indonesian authorities on 28 April 2008. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in London have also met with representatives from the UK Ahmadiyah Association to hear their concerns. At the UN Human Rights Council examination of Indonesia under the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva on 9 April, the UK raised concerns about the treatment of the Ahmadiyah community. We are also discussing the issue with our EU partners.
	We will continue to monitor the situation closely and continue to raise the issue of respect for religious freedom with the Indonesian authorities.

Iran: Prisoners

David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Iran on the arrest on 14 May and the detention in Evin prison of Fabriba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afifi Naeimi, Saied Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakki and Vahid Tifzah, all of whom co-ordinate the activities of the Baha'i community in Iran; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We are deeply concerned by the arrests of the informal Baha'i leadership in Tehran on 14 May and the ongoing persecution of the Baha'i community in Iran. We remain committed to pressing the Government of Iran to address its poor human rights record, including by protecting the right to religious freedom and ending the discrimination of the Baha'is in Iran. Following a recommendation by the UK, the EU issued a public declaration on 21 May which expressed
	serious concern about the continuing systematic discrimination and harassment of the Iranian Baha'is on the grounds of their religion
	and called for the release of the detained individuals. We will continue to raise this issue with the Iranian authorities.

Iran: Prisoners

David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Iran on the detention since 5 March of Mrs Mahuash Sabet, an Iranian Baha'i first held in Mashud and subsequently in Evin Prison; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We remain deeply concerned about the treatment of the Baha'i community in Iran and the recent arrests of the Baha'i leadership in particular. We have not specifically raised Mrs. Sabet's detention with the Iranian authorities, but we regularly raise our concerns about the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran with the Iranian authorities bilaterally and through the EU. I raised UK concerns about the treatment of the Baha'is in a meeting with the Iranian ambassador on 1 April, and the EU has raised concerns at least four times this year in meetings with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and through public declarations. Most recently, on 21 May, the EU issued a public statement urging Iran to respect religious freedoms, to end the persecution of the Baha'is and release the detained Baha'i leaders. We will make representations for the Baha'is situation, including Mrs. Sabet's case, to be included in the next EU human rights dmarche.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the performance of the right hon. Tony Blair in his capacity as middle east peace envoy against his objectives; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The right hon. Tony Blair is making a valuable contribution to the peace process. Despite the difficulties the Quartet, and Mr. Blair as its representative, plays a significant role in supporting the Annapolis process.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanism exists to  (a) brief right hon. Tony Blair and  (b) receive reports from the right hon. Tony Blair in respect of his activities as Middle East peace envoy; and on how many occasions each has occurred to date.

Kim Howells: The right hon. Tony Blair reports to the Quartet on and when required by them. There is no formal mechanism or requirement for him to report to, or be briefed by the Government; however we stay in close touch with him and his team.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been allocated to the right hon. Tony Blair's activities as middle east peace envoy; on what date this funding was agreed; what further expenditure is anticipated; and over what period.

Kim Howells: The UK has provided 400,000 to a UN Development Programme Trust Fund which provides support to the Quartet representative. These funds were allocated in September 2007. In addition, the Government have seconded four staff to his team for whom the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development continue to fund salaries and allowances. No decision has been made on future UK contribution.

Treaty of Lisbon

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on posts and institutions created by the Treaty of Lisbon; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular contact with all of our EU partners and with the EU institutions on a variety of issues.
	As set out in my letters of 22 April to the chairs of the Commons European Scrutiny Committee and the Lords EU Select Committee, technical level discussions to prepare for implementation have begun. While it is only sensible to ensure that the EU is ready to implement the treatyif all countries have ratifiedwe have made it clear to, and agreed with, our EU partners that no final decisions can be taken until ratification is confirmed.

Whales

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps UK embassies have been taking to encourage  (a) foreign governments to join the International Whaling Commission to support the international moratorium on commercial whaling and  (b) existing International Whaling Commission members to support the international moratorium on commercial whaling; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has instructed our embassies and high commissions to lobby certain governments to join the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in support of the moratorium on commercial whaling and to encourage attendance at the annual IWC meeting. A key component of the lobbying campaign is the updated publication by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Protecting Whalesa global responsibility, which was delivered to governments with a covering letter from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
	Since last year's IWC meeting, Uruguay and Romania have joined the IWC as anti-whaling countries and Nicaragua has regained its voting rights.
	Our embassies and high commissions have also been instructed to lobby certain existing IWC members with a view to maximising support for the moratorium at the Plenary Session of the Annual Meeting of the IWC which will be held in Santiago from 23-27 June 2008.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much  (a) direct Government and  (b) Lottery funding was allocated to (i) awareness programmes and (ii) rehabilitation services for (A) alcohol addiction and (B) addiction to illegal drugs in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: We have financial information on direct Government alcohol expenditure from 2002-03. Figures for previous years were held on a financial system, which is no longer accessible.
	
		
			  Alcohol awareness raising 
			   million 
			   Department of Health  Home Office 
			 2000-01   
			 2001-02   
			 2002-03 0.10  
			 2003-04 0.05  
			 2004-05 0.34  
			 2005-06 0.06  
			 2006-07 1.9 2.0 
			 2007-08 1.3 3.5 
			 2008-09 (1)6.0 (1)4.0 
			 (1) Planned 
		
	
	No direct Government funding was allocated to rehabilitation services for alcohol addiction. national health service primary care trusts and local social services authorities are responsible for commissioning these services.
	With regard to illegal drugs the FRANK information campaign was launched in May 2003 and provides young people and their families with advice and information about illegal drugs.
	This campaign is jointly funded by the Department of Health, the Home Office, and the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The total joint annual funding for the FRANK campaign are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Funding ( million) 
			 2003-04 4.25 
			 2004-05 4.30 
			 2005-06 6.17 
			 2006-07 9.05 
			 2007-08 6.13 
			 2008-09 5.35 
		
	
	Prior to the FRANK campaign the former Health Education Authority ran the National Drugs Helpline from 1996 to 2002. Funding figures for these years are not available.
	There was no direct Government funding for rehabilitation services prior to 2001-02. Health authorities were expected to fund drug treatment services, including rehabilitation services, from their existing budgets.
	Since 2001-02, the Department of Health and the Home Office have provided specific resources for drug treatment in the form of the pooled drug treatment budget (PTB). There are no separate allocations for rehabilitation services.
	The PTB is allocated to the 149 drug action teams across the country to use, along with local mainstream funding, to provide treatment and services according to specific local needs. The following table gives details of the PTB since 2001-02.
	
		
			   PTB ( million) 
			 2001-02 142 
			 2002-03 191 
			 2003-04 236 
			 2004-05 253 
			 2005-06 300 
			 2006-07 385 
			 2007-08 398 
			 2008-09 398 
		
	
	Concerning lottery funding, although the Big Lottery Fund has supported projects in the fields of drug and alcohol abuse, information in the form requested is not held centrally.

Methamphetamine: Misuse

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people were treated for addiction to methamphetamine in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of users of methamphetamine in England; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Methamphetamine is part of the amphetamine family and is commonly known as crystal meth or ice, its chemical name is methylamphetamine. Although the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) does collects data on people in structured drug treatment for amphetamine misuse, this data is not broken down further into the different types of amphetamine.
	In 2005, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) used NDTMS data in their review of methylamphetamine, Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs Methylamphetamine Review. The ACMD review reported that
	very few drug users applying for treatment were reporting methylamphetamine as either their primary drug or as a secondary drug
	of use.

Criminal Proceedings

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions are taking place between the Legal Services Commission, the Bar Council and the Law Society on Very High Cost Case (VHCC) criminal cases in relation to  (a) the present VHCC contract of April 2008 and  (b) the next round of VHCC cases; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath) and I have discussed the present Very High Cost Case contract with the Legal Services Commission, the Bar Council and the Law Society on a number of occasions. We have established a working group to make proposals for the next VHCC scheme. Representatives of the Legal Services Commission, the Bar Council, the Law Society, the Crown Prosecution Service and Ministry of Justice officials are members of that group.

Road Traffic Offences

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the Government plans to implement section 20 of the Road Safety Act 2006 regarding the offence of causing death by careless driving; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: We intend to implement the section 20 offence of causing death by careless driving together with the Section 21 offence of causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured following the publication of sentencing guidelines by the Sentencing Guidelines Council. We anticipate that the guidelines will be published before the summer recess and we are currently considering possible implementation dates.

Crime: Statistics

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many records of offences  (a) in total,  (b) of violence against the person,  (c) sexual offences,  (d) of robbery,  (e) of burglary,  (f) of theft of a vehicle and  (g) of theft from a vehicle recorded by the police in 2002-03 can be attributed to the effect of the National Crime Recording Standard.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 1 May 2008
	An online report entitled National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS): an analysis of the impact on recorded crime, published in July 2003 evaluated the impact of NCRS on recorded crime figures. The report stated that the national picture for total crime (2001-02: 5,525,024; 2002-03: 5,974,960) demonstrated an overall NCRS impact of 10 per cent. on the recorded crime statistics for 2002-03.
	Estimates of the percentage impact of the NCRS on recorded crime in 2002-03 varied considerably between offence types:
	Violence against the person: 23 per cent. impact
	(2001-02: 650,326; 2002-03: 845,078)
	Robbery: 3 per cent. impact
	(2001/02: 121,359; 2002/03: 110,271)
	Burglary: 3 per cent. impact
	(2001-02: 878,509; 2002-03: 890,099)
	Equivalent estimates of the impact of the NCRS on sexual offences, theft of a vehicle and theft from a vehicle recorded are unavailable.
	It is thought that there was some continuing impact of the NCRS on the number of recorded crimes in the three-year period following its introduction as a result of audits to further improve recording.

Crime: Statistics

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of crime recorded by the police in  (a) 2002-03,  (b) 2003-04,  (c) 2004-05,  (d) 2005-06 and  (e) 2006-07 would not have been counted prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 1 May 2008
	An online report entitled National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS): an analysis of the impact on recorded crime, published in July 2003 evaluated the impact of NCRS on record crime figures. The report stated that the national picture demonstrated an overall NCRS impact of 10 per cent. on the recorded crime statistics for 2002-03. The total recorded crime figure was 5,525,024 in 2001-02 and 5,974,960 in 2002-03.
	This analysis of the impact of the NCRS on recorded crime has not been replicated since it was originally carried out in 2003 so equivalent estimates are unavailable for 2003-04 through to 2006-07. It is, however, thought that there was some continuing impact of the NCRS on the number of recorded crimes in the three year period following its introduction as a result of audits to further improve recording.

Security Guards: Licensing

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what proportion of applications to the Security Industry Authority for licences were completed within the six to eight weeks processing target time in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many applications to the Security Industry Authority for  (a) licences and  (b) licence renewals have been delayed in processing as a result of the introduction of a new computer system and still await determination; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  how many stuck applications are in the Security Industry Authority licensing system; what steps are being taken to expedite the processing of these applications through the system; and when she expects them to have been dealt with.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 29 April 2008
	As a result of a delay in implementing the full functionality of the SIA's new processing system, some of this management information is not currently available. The SIA advise that data relating to the first quarter of this financial year will be available in August. I will write to you with this information when it is available.
	As at 13 May there were 346 cases at various stages of processing which were unable to progress further as a result of problems with the managed service provider system. The SIA are in contact with the individuals concerned as the majority of these cases require information to be re-submitted which is currently missing from the system.
	Most other cases are moving systematically, albeit more slowly than normal, through the process. The SIA is committed to doing all it can to return the process to normal levels and speed any 'stuck' cases that come to light through to completion.

Education: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what margin of error was permitted by markers passing the standardisation test to mark  (a) Key Stage 2 and  (b) Key Stage 3 national tests in (i) science, (ii) mathematics and (iii) English in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what requirement there is to provide feedback to markers from their standardisation tests before marking papers; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The National Assessment Agency (NAA) is responsible for the standardisation of markers for National Curriculum tests. I have therefore asked David Gee, Managing Director, NAA, to write to you in response to your questions. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from David Gee, dated 29 May 2008:
	Further to your two parliamentary questions to the Secretary of State the National Assessment Agency (NAA) has been asked to place this letter in the House of Commons library as a formal response.
	Marker Standardisation  Mentoring
	The process for the standardisation of markers for National Curriculum Tests has changed in 2008 and therefore there are differences in the way the margin of errors are recorded for the period from 2005 - 2007 and 2008. These are defined in the table enclosed.
	From 2005 - 2007 standardisation and the first sample, submitted at the same time, were the main method for detecting markers who were unable to consistently apply the mark scheme. The second sample, two-thirds of the way through the process, was a final check, but it was rare for a marker to be stopped at this stage. This manual process involved supervising markers checking the marking of those in their team and was very dependent on the individual consistency of the team leaders.
	From 2008, the introduction of the online standardisation and benchmarking processes means that monitoring of markers has become an ongoing process and poor marking can be identified and corrected at several stages throughout the marking activity. The procedures have been designed to detect those markers that are unable to consistently apply the mark scheme and stop them. It also allows team leaders to identify where markers may require mentoring support to improve their marking to ensure that all markers consistently apply the mark scheme.
	The online system for standardisation and benchmarking allows ETS, the test delivery agency, to monitor all markers against an agreed national standard set of scripts at all points in the process; monitoring both marking quality, through benchmarking, and marking progress on a daily basis. This will highlight were additional support may be necessary.
	Team leaders should provide feedback on the standardisation papers completed to all markers in their team. Any markers who failed their first attempt at standardisation will receive mentoring before a second attempt is made. For those markers who have passed standardisation, feedback should take place either before marking starts or very early in the process. Higher priority is given to those markers who have only just managed to pass standardisation. If after mentoring, a marker fails the second attempt at standardisation or benchmarking, the marker is stopped and removed from marking.
	If you are interested further I would be delighted to meet with you once this years tests are completed to give you a full briefing on the work of the NAA in all areas of assessment and school support.
	Please contact my office if you would like to arrange this.
	
		
			  Standardisation and Sampling Metrics 2005 to 2007( 1) 
			2005 to 2007( 1) 
			 Absolute mark difference allowed 
			  Key stage  Subject  Number of scripts in sample  Discretional second sample  Compulsory second sample 
			 2 English reading 10 6-7 8+ 
			  English writing 10 13-22 23+ 
			  Mathematics 10 16-19 20+ 
			  Science 10 11-23 24+ 
			  
			 3 English reading 10 13-22 23+ 
			  English writing 10 24-33 34+ 
			  Mathematics 10 10-19 20+ 
			  Science 10 19-30 31+ 
			 (1 )Data derived from 2007 NCT Policy Document. 
		
	
	
		
			  Standardisation and benchmarking metrics 2008 
			2008 Standardisation  2008 Benchmarking (current 27 May) and may be subject to further tightening. Benchmarking is conducted typically every 90 scripts 
			  Key Stage  Subject  Number of scripts in sample  Percentage exact agreement  Percentage adjacent  Percentage discrepant  Number of scripts in sample  Percentage exact agreement  Percentage adjacent  Percentage discrepant 
			 2 English 5 reading and 10 writing 80 20 6 90 10 
			  Mathematics 5 90 0 10 4 97 0 3 
			  Science 5 90 0 10 4 95 0 5 
			   
			 3 English reading 10 80 20 6 85 15 
			  English writing 10 80 20 6 90 10 
			  Mathematics 6 90 0 10 4 97 0 3 
			  Science 6 90 0 10 4 93 0 7

Primary Education: Greater London

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what information his Department holds on the  (a) demand for and  (b) supply of primary school places in each London borough in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department collects information from each local authority on the supply of school places through an annual survey. The most recent data available is for 2007. The number of school places was not collected in 2002 to allow for a change in the method of assessing school capacity. Currently the number of school places is calculated using the net capacity method of assessment which was introduced in 2003. Prior to 2003 the capacity of a school was calculated using the MOE (More Open Enrolment) method.
	The available information on the number of pupils in schools in each local authority is derived from data collected via the School Census and is published annually by the Department.
	The table provides the available information for a selection of years within the requested period. Figures for each of the last 10 years could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	
		
			  Maintained primary schools( 1) : number of school places and headcount of pupils( 2) ,  1998,  2001,  2003,  2007 ,  London local authority areas 
			1998  2001  2004  2007 
			Number of school places( 3)  Number of pupils  Number of school places( 3)  Number of pupils  Number of school places( 3)  Number of pupils  Number of school places( 3)  Number of pupils 
			   London 580,162 631,453 601,505 639,666 620,123 627,444 615,169 627,022 
			   
			   Inner London 213,357 228,069 219,678 232,551 225,237 229,675 223,413 228,186 
			 202 Camden 10,425 11,464 10,861 11,614 11,194 11,440 10,922 11,422 
			 201 City of London 210 204 210 225 210 220 210 225 
			 204 Hackney 17,166 17,985 17,497 18,053 17,577 17,948 17,267 17,893 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 9,493 9,475 9,230 9,467 9,606 9,790 9,367 9,736 
			 309 Haringey 19,156 21,786 19,966 22,362 21,203 21,868 21,148 21,791 
			 206 Islington 16,039 16,219 15,892 15,720 14,912 14,715 14,165 14,035 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 6,641 6,675 7,087 7,027 6,940 7,022 6,975 7,025 
			 208 Lambeth 20,661 19,753 19,536 20,020 19,175 19,843 19,423 20,109 
			 209 Lewisham 19,732 22,147 20,418 22,897 22,262 22,078 22,079 21,785 
			 316 Newham 27,056 29,181 28,341 31,292 29,767 31,129 29,958 30,579 
			 210 Southwark 21,265 23,505 22,816 24,068 24,075 23,506 23,655 22,535 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 21,940 22,166 22,051 21 ,989 21,308 22,183 21,351 22,531 
			 212 Wandsworth 14,555 17,783 16,699 17,615 17,077 17,117 16,962 17,453 
			 213 Westminster 9,018 9,726 9,074 10,202 9,931 10,816 9,931 11 ,067 
			   
			   Outer London 366,805 403,384 381,827 407,115 394,886 397,769 391,756 398,836 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 16,663 18,157 17,427 18,638 17,831 18,451 17,919 18,756 
			 302 Barnet 23,594 26,177 23,770 26,504 25,789 25,810 25,006 25,969 
			 303 Bexley 20,466 22,703 21,062 22,551 21,038 21,467 20,280 20,460 
			 304 Brent 19,629 22,428 20,976 22,903 22,964 22,817 22,905 23,308 
			 305 Bromley 19,199 24,670 21,960 24,848 24,218 24,196 25,096 23,555 
			 306 Croydon 28,722 31,062 29,918 31,305 30,222 30,272 29,338 29,243 
			 307 Ealing 25,084 27,325 25,913 27,118 25,369 26,184 25,235 26,548 
			 308 Enfield 23,376 26,462 24,761 27,094 26,217 26,813 26,719 27,423 
			 203 Greenwich 20,692 21,665 21,071 21,033 20,638 20,601 20,617 20,880 
			 310 Harrow 19,786 20,128 20,466 19,868 21,182 19,511 20,421 19,551 
			 311 Havering 20,915 21,131 22,096 20,923 20,401 20,103 20,198 19,123 
			 312 Hillingdon 21,176 22,798 21,966 24,422 23,700 24,204 23,579 24,205 
			 313 Hounslow 19,332 19,716 18,576 19,439 18,700 18,966 18,494 19,062 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 9,188 11,591 10,009 11,827 11,169 11,217 11,047 11,617 
			 315 Merton 13,798 16,252 13,608 15,544 15,266 14,549 14,787 15,076 
			 317 Redbridge 20,189 22,011 21,007 23,872 22,208 23,640 22,159 24,461 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 11,307 12,246 11,559 12,370 13,311 12,560 13,538 13,005 
			 319 Sutton 13,027 14,859 14,407 14,714 14,289 15,139 13,688 14,724 
			 320 Waltham Forest 20,662 22,003 21,275 22,142 20,374 21,269 20,730 21,870 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Pupil numbers exclude dually registered pupils. (3) Capacity of school was calculated using the MOE (More Open Enrolment) method prior to 2003. (4) Number of school places is calculated using the net capacity method of assessment, which was introduced in 2003.  Sources: Surplace Places Survey School Census